*If you haven’t read the allegations Newsboys/DC Talk singer Michael Tait is facing, read this first.
Hey all, how are you doing? It’s been a rough week for many Christian music fans. There’s no easy way to learn that your childhood heroes are fallible and human. More often than not, when we peel back the curtain of people “we follow,” we tend to see things hidden away that we don’t like.
It’s why shows such as The Boys and Invincible are so popular. It shows what superheroes are like daily. It gives a look at their core values, what really motivates their heroism, and all the ways they fail or do evil when no one is looking. We can never seemingly look away from the crash and burn of someone we put on a pedestal. It makes us hypocrites, too.
Now think of it this way, our celebrities, influencers, and the like, aren’t powered beings, they are human beings. When you add the guise of “doing work” for the Lord, the expectation is something reflecting perfection. This is a goal we can only strive for but never achieve. We’re flawed.
That’s what makes this Michael Tait situation so shocking and not shocking at all. We see our “heroes” fail time and time again. Tait stated he was living a “double life,” one as the hero on stage leading people to the Lord, and one off stage as the villain of his own demise.
It’s true. There have been rumors of Tait’s indiscretions for years. I had heard a few myself (never to the extreme of the current allegations). When you work closely in Christian media (15 years for me), you hear and see lots of things you wish you hadn’t.
When they say “Don’t meet your heroes,” they really mean it.
As a child, I grew up on the music of DC Talk and Newsboys. Tait’s vocals are ingrained in my brain since I was seven years old. Many others like me needed to take a little time to collect their thoughts. What does this mean? Can I still listen to the music? Does the great work they did become diminished? Frankly, I don’t know.
Others point the finger at the Newsboys, artist teams, and everyone else who remain silent about stories and rumors. Adam Agee, who’s had the unfortunate and impossible duty of filling the shoes as frontman of two legacy Christian acts, first Audio Adrenaline, and now Newsboys, was aware, like everyone else, but without proof, what can you do?
“We have obviously heard rumors over the years and each time something came up we tried to find the source and no one would tell us,” Agee commented in a Facebook group. “We asked Tait each time something would come up and he would deny it emphatically. He called a meeting the first week of January and none of us knew that the next day we would be a 4 piece band instead of a 5 piece.”
He continued, “That’s the truth and you can believe it or not. I hate all of this and think it’s incredibly sad. I’m so sorry for the victims and proud of them having the courage to speak up. More coming soon. Love you all.”
All this to say, Jessica Morris of The Roy’s Report deserves a lot of credit for being the one to break the story in a substantial, evidence-based way. She and whatever team helped put out this story over 2.5 and a half years did what no one else could. The three men who came forward also need to be celebrated because they helped put an end to someone using influence and fame to take advantage of others in certain situations. These are regular people who acted heroically. Thanks for doing what many of us couldn’t. Some people run into the fire, and others just pull out their phone.
I’ve seen a few comments from people not necessarily “victim blaming” but also putting the responsibility on the three adult men who allowed themselves to be put in this situation. While this is true, you have to try and put yourself in their shoes. You are 22 and trying to break into a cutthroat industry. One of the largest figures in the space takes a friendly interest in you. He’s inviting you to party and hang “with the boys.” This is a surefire way to make it in your brain…until it isn’t. Then it’s not so fun. A tough lesson with lifelong consequences.
There are so many times in life when we are involved in circumstances or put in situations where we feel uncomfortable, and we have to just get through it. When I was 22, I was in a band playing shows weekly. Even on a local music scene level, I remember looking up to bands and “trying to be cool” just to be friends and get on their level. As everyday humans, we have insecurities and constantly wrestle against ourselves.
I interviewed Michael Tait over 10 years ago, not knowing any of the rumors or allegations, and the childhood me was so excited. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to walk up to him and introduce myself at an event, but I chickened out. I opted for TobyMac instead, maybe a wise decision.
It seems every year I have to write an article like this, and it gets harder each time. A little more of me loses hope in this industry. What’s most disappointing about this situation is that for the Newsboys, this is the second time it’s happened.
In 1997, longtime frontman John James was removed from the group because he was loaded up on cocaine and engaging in promiscuous activity with groupies. The statement back then was that James was leaving to focus on family and pursue other music ventures. The Newsboys would then drop their Entertaining Angels album. Peter Furler would fully take center stage, and Phil Joel would step up for parts James may have done. No one was the wiser until it was revealed years later.
Too many times, these incidents are brushed under the rug or hushed away because we don’t want them to reflect poorly on the ministry or the brand. But what’s worse? – Taking accountability or continuing to lead the lie for years to come until a path of destruction and victims pile up?
When Michael Tait stepped away from the Newsboys in January, a time to act for the group was then, as the abrupt nature of the departure, the looming story, and the constant stories swirling.
DC Talk’s Christian music-changing album Jesus Freak turns 30 this year. The song “What If I Stumble?” opens up with a quote by Brennan Manning:
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
Then Michael Tait opens the song by singing:
Is this one for the people?
Is this one for the Lord?
Or do I simply serenade
The things I must afford?
You can jumble them together
My conflict still remains
Holiness is calling
in the midst of courting fame
Gut punch.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source rapzilla.com ’
